Homelessness

On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

According to a December, 2000 report of the US Conference of Mayors:

* single men comprise 44 percent of the homeless, single women 13 percent, families with children 36 percent, and unaccompanied minors seven percent.
* the homeless population is about 50 percent African-American, 35 percent white, 12 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Native American and 1 percent Asian.

According to the 1996 National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (NSHAPC):

* single homeless individuals in 1996 reported an average income of $348 during the last 30 days, about 51 percent of the 1996 federal poverty level of $680/month for one person.
* 28 percent said they sometimes or often do not get enough to eat, compared with 12 percent of poor American adults.
* 44 percent did paid work during the past month.
* 21 percent received income from family members or friends.
* 66 percent of the homeless have problems with alcohol, drug abuse, or mental illness.
* 22 percent have been physically assaulted.
* 7 percent have been sexually assaulted.
* 38 percent say someone stole money or things directly from them.
* 30 percent have been homeless for more than two years.

http://www.policyalmanac.org/social_welfare/homeless.shtml

The Acorn People

Even though he knows the camp is for disabled children, Ron Jones anticipates sunny days of hiking, swimming, and boating as a counselor at Camp Wiggin. But he arrives and realizes how severely disabled the children are, it seems too much to bear. Until he meets his campers-The Acorn People. A group of kids who teach him that, inside, they are are the same as any average kid, and with encouragement, determination, and friendship, nothing is impossible."A fantastic and beautiful story."-Seattle T..

Welcome back to school!

Welcome back to WMS! For some of you, this is your first year here! Enjoy! It's a great place to be! Also, welcome to my classroom blog. In due time, you'll have your own blog and we'll be able to interact with each other and post assignments on blogs. Great fun! To kick off the year, we'll be learning a great new reading strategy straight from our own Kansas University. This reading strategy is called Word Identification Strategy and enables you to pronounce big, hairy words that we encounter while reading. Thus, we'll read better and understand what we're reading. After learning this strategy, I'll be asking you to practice it for the rest of your life until it becomes as automatic as riding a bike or tying your shoes. In seventh grade math, we'll be practicing basic facts and reading large numbers like 432,567,387,005. Can you read that? The first five sevies who can correctly read that number to me, wins prizes! ;) In eighth grade math we'll be operating with negative and positive integers. Sounds simple? It really isn't so simple. This will be a foundation for more difficult Algebra skills which you will need to pass the assessment and be successful in high school math! Hang with me! We'll have a fun ride! Glad you're here! Leave a comment. Ms. Rich

The Two Loves of My Life

What would I do without my "boys"! My "boys" are my two pet doggies, Walaby and Aesop. Walaby is a black and white Shih Tsu and Aesop is a fluffy, white Maltepoo (three fourths Maltese and one fourth poodle). Walaby came into my life four and a half years ago. My mother had bought him after my dad died. She couldn't handle his "puppy messes" and was going to give him to her house cleaner. By that time, I had a great affection for cute, little Walaby so I said I would take him. The transition wasn't so bad as we (Mr. Walaby and I) had already formed a very strong bond. Three years later, I just happened to walk into the Green Bush animal store and just happened to encounter a litter of puppies. The runt of the litter was my Aesop and without hesitation, I fell in love and put down a deposit. He was too young to take home so for weeks, I stopped by and held him everyday. He was so small, just fitting into the palm of my hand. Walaby was a little threatened by the tiny, tiny "thing" I brought home but they quickly bonded and now follow each other where ever they go. Sometimes they chase each other one hundred miles an hour, zipping through furniture, sliding on the hardwood floors. It's very entertaining. I don't know what I'd do without my canine love!

Liar, Liar

"Liar,Liar" is the funniest movie I've ever seen. The hilarious Jim Carey plays a divorced lawyer who has a little son. He's always too busy to spend time with his little son and misses his birthday party. When the son blows out his candles on his cakes he wishes that for just one day, his dad would not lie. The wish comes true and Jim Carey has to tell the truth for an entire day which does not bode well for him, professionally nor personally. He's defending this unsavory woman in court who wants a lot of money from her ex-husband. He has a difficult time as his case was all built on lies. At one point he goes to the bathroom and beats himself up, slamming his head with a toilet lid. Someone comes in and he asks, "What are you doing?" J.C. says, "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm kicking my own #%$$!" At the end, he learns that his son should be more of a priority in his life. If I'm ever down or feeling blue, I get out "Liar, Liar" and laugh my #%$$ off!

Things That Make Me Smile

-Dante
-Babies
-Dogs
-People falling down
-Pretty toe nails
-Mistah Huff
-Dolphins playing
-New car smell
-New car
-New outfit
-New shoes
-Paycheck
-Beautiful flowers
-Children playing
-People I haven't seen for a while
-Old boyfriends (glad they're not mine!)
-Watching "our team" win
-My daughter smiling
-My brother's dumb jokes
-Memories of my dad

NUTS!

My daughter, Kalen, the "health nut" has been home for two days and she's on my case! She thinks that I eat way too much junk food...pop, chocolate, ice cream, etc. So this is my second day of giving it up. She says I'll look better and feel better. I'm waiting!!!!!! ha! Anyway, Oprah Winfrey says it takes 21 days to break a habit so I have 19 more days to go before I'll become a changed woman...a "health nut"...can't imagine. By the way, she's making me eat Brazilian nuts because they prevent cancer. Oh boy!